Related Links

Heís not only anchoring the best starting pitching foursome in baseball, with Anibal Sanchezís return to the Tigers this morning, but heís now perfectly positioned to become the gameís first $30-million-per-year pitcher upon the expiration his contract following the 2014 season.

This is the price of championship contention for the Tigers.

Sanchez got fair market value: five years at $80 million.

Thatís what quality, middle-of-the-rotation starters -- even with career sub-.500 records -- get now in an open bidding war.

Sanchezís deal, on average, is slightly higher than the five-year, $79.5-million contract Verlander signed in 2010. But Verlander will make $20 million next season and in 2014. And after Zack Grienkeís five-year, $147-million deal with the Dodgers, the starting point for any negotiations with Verlander will be $28 million annually.

Thatís why thereís even more pressure for the Tigers win a World Series as quickly as possible. The aggressive spending, though commendable, eventually will catch up to them, because Detroit simply cannot procure the vast revenues from regional television contracts as can New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Texas.

Keeping Sanchez maintains a positional strength for the Tigers. Starting pitching remains the one championship constant. Bats will heat up and cool off. But fielding a nightly rotation of Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, Sanchez and probably second-year lefty Drew Smyly not only makes the Tigers the prohibitive favorite to win their third straight AL Central championship, it gives them a small edge over Texas and Los Angeles in a best-of-seven pennant series.

Do these moves now force the Rangers to acquire Arizona rightfielder Justin Upton, regardless of the cost of prospects?

If the Rangers get Upton, theyíll inch past the Tigers as the early AL favorite.

And then itíll be up to the Tigers and Angels to make the next move.

Credit the Tigers for not panicking in these negotiations. They knew Sanchez was very comfortable with his surroundings here. He didnít have to be counted on as a top-of-the-rotation guy like he would have been with the Chicago Cubs. And Sanchez trusted the Tigers enough that he afforded them the opportunity to match any offer he received.

Everyone was pretty confident that if the Tigers treated him fairly, the sides would reach an accord.

Itís a good move for the Tigers, reflective of their win-now desperation. But itís also a stern reminder that the price of fairness in baseball today continues rising.